US midterms: Poll says Trump approval at record low

President Donald Trump's approval rating in the United States dipped to a record low as voters in the recent congressional midterm elections utilized their ballots to oppose the Republican leader, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday. The poll revealed a significant preference for Democrats over Republicans, with 46% of respondents supporting the Democratic Party and 38% backing the Republicans.

The 8-percentage-point margin in favor of Democrats was slightly narrower than the 11-point lead recorded a week earlier, indicating a potential shift in voter sentiment. However, this narrower lead does not account for the intricacies of individual state and district contests that determine control of the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Despite not being an official candidate, Trump's influence on the election was palpable. Thirty-two percent of poll participants expressed approval of his job performance in the White House, a figure that remained unchanged from a week prior and just above the record-low approval rating of 31% from two weeks ago.

Independents were notably vocal about their disapproval of Trump, with 50% of them stating that their congressional vote was a protest against the president. Among registered voters, 78% cited the rising cost of living as the most crucial issue influencing their vote, with 43% preferring Democrats over Republicans in addressing this concern.